Read Online All Fired Up by Nikki Dee Houston - Free Book Online
Authors: Nikki Dee Houston
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yellow of his trousers blackened and smoking in places.
“He’s alive, Cindy.” She hadn’t heard Sheldon come over to her. “He’s suffered some bruising and a possible fracture of one arm from the beam that fell and pinned him down, but he’s gonna be OK.”
It took a minute or so for Sheldon’s news to sink in. She’d thought Dave was dead. Or at the very least, burnt or had inhaled too much smoke.
“He’s an experienced firefighter. He kept his breathing apparatus on, and his protective gear basically saved him.
“But the radio. I tried to get him on the radio.”
“Ah, now that’s a fatal, I’m afraid. The radio was totaled by the falling beams.”
Her shoulders slumped and she felt dizzy. Managing a small smile at Sheldon’s attempt at humor, she looked up into his face. “Thanks.” Her voice was barely a whisper.
He put a hand on her shoulder. “Come on. I’ll take you over to see him.” Sheldon gently but firmly led her over to where the paramedics were preparing to load Dave into the back of the ambulance.
“Dave. It was Reece who put out the flames to let the others escape.”
He peered at her, his eyes half hidden by an oxygen mask, his face blackened. One arm lay across his chest in a big bandage. He raised his other hand slowly and gave her the thumbs up. Next thing, he was put in the back of the ambulance and driven away.
Sheldon tapped her on the shoulder. “Go back to the station with Warner now. The rest of us’ll finish up here.”
In a daze, she walked over to the truck. Warner, his helmet now off to reveal his bright red face, opened the door for her. She climbed up into the truck and the door shut tightly behind her. She stared out the windshield at the still smoldering building, hardly noticing Warner climb into the cab and kick the engine into life.
They drove in silence back to the station, the dispatch radio still crackling with voices. Warner reached over and turned the volume down low.
“No need for us to have to listen to that now.” Warner sounded different—almost friendly. He cleared his throat, then continued.
“Reece…um, I owe you an apology. Several apologies actually.”
She said nothing, unable to find any words to make this moment easier for both of them.
“Look, I’ve been a total jerk. You didn’t deserve it. You’re as good as any man.” He hesitated for a moment. “I-I’m sorry.” He took his eyes off the road ahead for a moment and looked at her. She turned and, seeing the genuineness in his eyes, nodded.
Chapter Six
On the third morning after the fire at the factory, Cindy arrived at the station, parked her car, and walked up the hallway to stow her bag and grab a coffee. As she was about to pass by Dave’s office, his large frame filled the doorway, surprising her.
“So, not gonna stop in and ask how I am, eh?”
Her mouth hung open as she stared at him, not expecting him to return to work so soon. His well-tanned face shone from a recent shave, and his eyes seemed to glow emerald green. He wore his usual blue trousers and white T-shirt, but his left arm was resting in a sling. One eyebrow rose as he inspected the shock his appearance caused her. “Don’t like what you see, huh?”
With an effort, she closed her mouth and tried to look nonplussed, doubting very much if she succeeded. Still unable to speak coherently, she stared at him, wishing he would stop looking at her with his amusement evident, as a small smile lifted one corner of his mouth. She stared at his lips, a sudden impulse to kiss them overwhelming her.
She tore her eyes away from him and glanced up and down the corridor. Nobody there. With one stride, she was in his office, and heard his door shut with a bang. Dropping her backpack on the floor, she flung her arms around him, holding him tightly to her.
“Hey, hey, steady. I’m wounded you know.” His one good arm wrapped around her and he pulled her close, lowering his head to her
“He’s alive, Cindy.” She hadn’t heard Sheldon come over to her. “He’s suffered some bruising and a possible fracture of one arm from the beam that fell and pinned him down, but he’s gonna be OK.”
It took a minute or so for Sheldon’s news to sink in. She’d thought Dave was dead. Or at the very least, burnt or had inhaled too much smoke.
“He’s an experienced firefighter. He kept his breathing apparatus on, and his protective gear basically saved him.
“But the radio. I tried to get him on the radio.”
“Ah, now that’s a fatal, I’m afraid. The radio was totaled by the falling beams.”
Her shoulders slumped and she felt dizzy. Managing a small smile at Sheldon’s attempt at humor, she looked up into his face. “Thanks.” Her voice was barely a whisper.
He put a hand on her shoulder. “Come on. I’ll take you over to see him.” Sheldon gently but firmly led her over to where the paramedics were preparing to load Dave into the back of the ambulance.
“Dave. It was Reece who put out the flames to let the others escape.”
He peered at her, his eyes half hidden by an oxygen mask, his face blackened. One arm lay across his chest in a big bandage. He raised his other hand slowly and gave her the thumbs up. Next thing, he was put in the back of the ambulance and driven away.
Sheldon tapped her on the shoulder. “Go back to the station with Warner now. The rest of us’ll finish up here.”
In a daze, she walked over to the truck. Warner, his helmet now off to reveal his bright red face, opened the door for her. She climbed up into the truck and the door shut tightly behind her. She stared out the windshield at the still smoldering building, hardly noticing Warner climb into the cab and kick the engine into life.
They drove in silence back to the station, the dispatch radio still crackling with voices. Warner reached over and turned the volume down low.
“No need for us to have to listen to that now.” Warner sounded different—almost friendly. He cleared his throat, then continued.
“Reece…um, I owe you an apology. Several apologies actually.”
She said nothing, unable to find any words to make this moment easier for both of them.
“Look, I’ve been a total jerk. You didn’t deserve it. You’re as good as any man.” He hesitated for a moment. “I-I’m sorry.” He took his eyes off the road ahead for a moment and looked at her. She turned and, seeing the genuineness in his eyes, nodded.
Chapter Six
On the third morning after the fire at the factory, Cindy arrived at the station, parked her car, and walked up the hallway to stow her bag and grab a coffee. As she was about to pass by Dave’s office, his large frame filled the doorway, surprising her.
“So, not gonna stop in and ask how I am, eh?”
Her mouth hung open as she stared at him, not expecting him to return to work so soon. His well-tanned face shone from a recent shave, and his eyes seemed to glow emerald green. He wore his usual blue trousers and white T-shirt, but his left arm was resting in a sling. One eyebrow rose as he inspected the shock his appearance caused her. “Don’t like what you see, huh?”
With an effort, she closed her mouth and tried to look nonplussed, doubting very much if she succeeded. Still unable to speak coherently, she stared at him, wishing he would stop looking at her with his amusement evident, as a small smile lifted one corner of his mouth. She stared at his lips, a sudden impulse to kiss them overwhelming her.
She tore her eyes away from him and glanced up and down the corridor. Nobody there. With one stride, she was in his office, and heard his door shut with a bang. Dropping her backpack on the floor, she flung her arms around him, holding him tightly to her.
“Hey, hey, steady. I’m wounded you know.” His one good arm wrapped around her and he pulled her close, lowering his head to her
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